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Commemorative Coin Will Fly on Space Shuttle Mission
STS-125

Among the many intriguing contents
in STS-125 will be a unique coin. The 2009 Louis Braille
Bicentennial Silver Dollar, the first coin ever to feature readable
Braille, will fly on Atlantis on May 11, 2009. The coin will be
launched into space on mission STS-125, which will service NASA's
Hubble Space Telescope.

The Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar was released by the
United States Mint on March 26, 2009. Sales of the coin will be
used to support the National Federation of the Blind "Braille
Readers are Leaders" campaign. The campaign is a national
initiative created to double the number of blind children learning
Braille by 2015.

Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the
Blind, said: "The Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar
symbolizes the power of knowledge and future opportunities for
blind children across America. It is therefore fitting that this
historic coin will be part of a mission to uncover the secrets of
the universe. Perhaps someday a Braille reader will also be part of
such a mission."

"NASA believes strongly in the importance of educational
opportunities for everyone," said Joyce Winterton, assistant
administrator for education at NASA headquarters in Washington.

"That is why we have partnered with the National Federation of
the Blind to help create programs that enhance scientific study for
blind youth. Launching the first coin to contain tactile, readable
Braille into space symbolizes NASA's commitment to the spread of
knowledge by every means and to every individual."